Hurricane Isaac's victims need our help: Editorial

Hurricane Isaac proved to be a severely destructive storm for parts of Southeast Louisiana, particularly in LaPlace and Southern Plaquemines Parish. But charity and non-profit officials said the amount of donations and volunteers from across the nation expected to help in Isaac's recovery will be far below those after Hurricane Katrina.

Ted Jackson, Times-Picayune archiveHurricane Isaac drove water from Lake Pontchartrain into neighborhoods in LaPlace, Reserve and Montz, flooding thousands of homes and businesses with as much as 4 feet of water.

That means assisting Isaac's victims will be largely a job for residents here and a few national entities -- and we must rise to the challenge.

Already, local volunteers and people from some out-of-state groups have been working with homeowners, especially in LaPlace, to gut and repair flooded houses. Local faith-based groups are organizing efforts to assist in that rebuilding, and that's a rewarding way to contribute.

Money for materials will be more important than free labor in the long run. Several non-profits, including the Greater New Orleans Foundation, have set up funds to collect donations for relief efforts. Many of us can donate to help sustain this recovery.

Metro residents came to each others' aid after Katrina, and we will always be thankful for the enormous help our neighbors, friends and volunteers from across the country provided. Those of us who escaped Isaac untouched can now help those among us who didn't.